Grave marker



Aug. l2. 1924. 1,504,565'

J. M. McNEILL GRAVE MARKER Filed Oct. Il. 1925 INVENTOR mmmemi B Patented Aug. l2, 1924.

i,5n4,5s

F s i c JOHN MALCOLM MONEILL, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

GRAVE MARKER.

Application filed ctober 1, 1923.

T0 all whom t may con-cem:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. MCNEILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grave Markers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in grave markers, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements y herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a grave marker of the character described that is simple in construction, and that may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

A further object of my invention is to provide a grave marker of the character described by means of which the identity of the deceased may be clearly preserved for the duration of the life of the marker. It is often impossible to provide a stone or marker of other imperishable material upon which the identity of the deceased may be cut, and at the present time, various forms of markers constructed of wood and the like are employed upon which the identity of the deceased is imprinted, but in which the imprint is exposed to the destructive influences of the elements.

A further object of my invention is to provide a grave marker of the character described in which the legends contained thereon may be changed at will.

A further object of my invention is to provide a grave marker of the character described which may be easily set in the ground adjacent the grave without necessitating the provision of an opening for receiving the base of the marker.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of an embodi ment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the mech anism illustrated in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 2.

In carrying out my invention, I make use Serial N0. 665,923.

of a metal face plate l rounded at its upper end 2 and tapering to a relatively sharp point at its lower end 3. The face plate 1 has an angular aperture 4 therethrough adjacent its upper end (see Figure l).

The face plate 1 is further provided with an angular flan e 5 extending rearwardly thereof and in c ose proximity with the inner edges of the opening 4. A transparent glass window 6 is disposed within the angular flange 5 to close the opening 4 from wind, rain, and other destructive elements. In `orderto further the sealing of the o ening 4, I provide a rubber gasket T W ich is disposed between the rear wall of the face late 1 and the window 6.

A lock 8 for supporting removable letters 9 by means of which le ends may be inscribed on the marker is tted within the adjacent inner walls of the flange 5 and perlmitted to contact the inner walls of the glass member 6. The block 8 is of suflicient thickA ness to project beyond the rearward edge 10 of the fiange 5.

Means for securely fixing the block 8 in position against the glass Window 6 so as to exert a slight pressure thereupon and subsequently upon the gasket 7, is provided in a metal covering 11 arranged to encompass and closely contact with the outer side walls of the flange 5 and the rear wall of the block 8. The flange 5 is provided with a protrusion 12 on its outer wall. This protruded portion 12 is arranged to bei received in a cavity 13 formed in the bottom wall of the cover 11. The upper end of the cover 11 is provided with an upwardly extending plate 14 which is arranged to lie in close proximity with the rear wall of the face plate 1. Obviously, the cover l1 may be removed from the flange 5 by merely grasping the portion 14 and drawing it away from the face plate.

The block 8 is provided with a pluraiity of longitudinally extending grooves 153 therein. Each of the grooves 15 has an angular enlargement 15 at the bottom there of and a relativel narrow cavity 17 at its upper sides exten ing toward the rear portion of the block 8. The adjustable letter plates 9, substantially L-shaped in cross section, are fitted in the grooves 15 to form legends relating to the deceased, whereby the identity of the deceased may be made known.

Obviously, letters having the cross section, as shown at 9 in Figure, orlflat plates, as shown at 17 in the last two grooves of the block 8 shown in Figure 4, may be used. It Will be understood f course that the particular structure of the letterV plates` is entirely at the option of the user.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof maybe readily understood;4 In' order to fix the letters to the marker, it is merely necessary to move the cover 11f in themanner heretofore described, Which consistsin drawing the portion 14 away from lthe vface plate. 1.?" The block 8 may thereupon be extracted from Within the walls' of the flange 5 and the letter platesl or 17, as the case may be, adjusted-'in the grooves 15. Whenpthis is done, the block' is reinserted in its position "Within the Walls ofthe iange .5i/'and the cover V:plate 11 replaced. It will noted that the cover plate `causes the glassV 6to bear against the gasket 7 in such ainanner as to render the space .between the block 8 andthe -Wall of the facev plate l water-tight.

The.c niarker may be fixed' in vits'place by merely` forcing the pointed end loof the marker into the earth in much the saine manner as the ordinary stake.

I claim:

grave marker of the character described comprising a rigid plate adapted :torV engagement with the earth adjacent the grave, said plate having an opening therethrough, a transparent window disposed in said opening, a block disposed at Vthe rear ofsaid Window, means associated with said block -for displaying legends relating to the deceased through said Window, and a Waterproof covering for the block.

2. A grave marker of the character described comprising a rigid plate adapted for engagement with the earth adjacent the grave, said plate having an opening therethrouglna gasket disposed ,concentric with said opening, a transparent Window .dii posed in said opening, a blockdi'sposed at `'the rear of said Window, n'ieans associated .with said block for displayingjlegends relating to the deceased throughsaid Window,

and a Waterproof covering for therblock.

JOHN MALCOLM-MCNEILL A 

